SACW | 26 Nov. 2003
Harsh Kapoor
aiindex at mnet.fr
Tue Nov 25 19:01:40 CST 2003
SOUTH ASIA CITIZENS WIRE | 26 November, 2003
From the South Asia Citizens Web: www.sacw.net
_______
[1] UK: I am one of Them - Why I refused a
literary award sponsored by the xenophobic Mail
on Sunday
(Hari Kunzru)
[2] Condemnation of the recent communal violence
in Bangladesh + request to send appeals to the
Bangladeshi authorities (Alliance for a Secular
and Democratic South Asia)
[3] UK: Gujarat rights activist for Dr L M
Singhvi Lecture on Pluralism (Shyam Bhatia)
[4] Appeal To Voters - Defeat BJP , Defeat
Communalism, Save India (Secular Morcha)
[5] An appeal for mobilizing anti-communal forces in Karnataka
+ related news report
[6] India - West Bengal: Buddha pens epistle to PM against 'Saraswati vandana'
[7] India: Foreign origin panel test-fired in Gujarat (Basant Rawat)
[8] India: Meet on crime against women in New Delhi
[9] UK: Gujarat the aftermath- FILM + release of report (9-10 December, London)
[10] Update: World Social Forum, India, Jan 16-21, '04 (India Resource Center)
--------------
[1]
The Guardian
November 22, 2003
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1090853,00.html
I am one of Them
Why I refused a literary award sponsored by the xenophobic Mail on Sunday
Hari Kunzru
I'm writing this in a small town in south India,
and being so far away from London literary
gossip, I have been relatively insulated from the
reaction to my decision to turn down the John
Llewellyn Rhys Prize. I chose to do so - and to
do so publicly - because otherwise I would have
felt like a hypocrite. I understand that some of
the judges are angry at the use of the prize
luncheon as a political platform. To them I can
only apologise and say that sometimes questions
of literary value are inseparable from politics.
The presence of the Mail on Sunday as sponsor of
the prize made this such a moment.
The John Llewellyn Rhys prize is a venerable
British literary institution. It has been won by
several writers whose work I admire, like Angela
Carter and Jonathan Coe. I was, like any young
novelist, honoured that a jury had chosen to
shortlist my first published work. But if one is
to take a book prize seriously, one has to ask
about its function.
For the winning writer, this is obvious. It
brings publicity and may constitute the first
(perhaps faltering) steps towards inclusion in a
canon. For a sponsor, it is a way of linking its
product to the actual or supposed cultural value
of literary activity. By accepting, I would have
been giving legitimacy to a publication that has,
over many years, shown itself to be extremely
xenophobic - an absurdity for a novelist of mixed
race who is supposedly being honoured for a book
about the stupidity of racial classifications and
the seedy underside of empire.
One of the ugliest developments in recent British
political life has been the emergence of the
"asylum seeker" as a bogeyman for middle England.
I have spent some years feeling depressed about
the extraordinary media hostility towards
refugees, those claiming asylum and those (oh
most horrific!) "economic migrants" whose crime
it is to sneak into a rich country looking for a
better quality of life.
This point of view does, of course, sell papers.
There is a sector of the British public more than
willing to buy tall tales of scrounging,
criminality, disease and vice. The Mail has
always been quick to cash in on prejudice, and
its cynical promotion of ignorance over tolerance
has always made me angry. The Mail's campaign to
persuade its readers that they live in dangerous
times, that the white cliffs of Dover are about
to be "swamped" or "overrun" by swan-eating
Kosovans or HIV positive central Africans would,
in isolation, be merely amusing. However, the
attitudes it promotes towards immigrants have
real consequences. Bricks through windows. Knives
in guts.
Standing up for refugees seems, at the moment, to
be an unpopular cause. British politics addresses
itself to the swing vote at the centre, the
nervous middle Englanders. Thus the Blair
government is keen to show how tough it can be,
and we are presented with the unpleasant
spectacle of privately run prison camps and a
home secretary who always appears to be wondering
aloud why They can't be more like Us.
My politics start from a different perspective.
Britain is a wealthy country, and a safe country.
We also have a reputation as a fair country, a
reputation earned, paradoxically, by generations
of hard-working imperial administrators who
believed in the old-fashioned public school
values that the Mail pretends to uphold. We have
a duty of care for refugees, and it is
distasteful to watch our politicians doing their
best to shirk it, in order to persuade voters
that their rose-trellised cottages are safe from
the dark hordes across the Channel.
What is an "economic migrant" but someone who has
followed that sage Norman Tebbit, and "got on
their bikes to look for work"? Our global system
promotes the free movement of capital, yet it
prevents the free movement of people to follow
that capital, which concentrates itself behind
tightly controlled borders while the hungry look
in, their appetites whetted by satellite TV
images of the consumer wealth they are denied.
Wouldn't you jump a train or hide in a lorry for
a chance to live on the other side of that
border? I know I would.
Every time you go to a restaurant, or stay in a
hotel, or walk over a clean floor in a public
building, you may be feeling the benefits of
"economic migration". If you don't like Them
coming Here, the solution isn't to chuck them in
prison, but to redistribute global wealth so they
don't have to. Only desperate people travel
thousands of miles from home to clean toilets.
I want my work to help reduce prejudice, not
reinforce it. Accepting this prize would, sadly,
have been a betrayal of that principle. Instead,
I have been afforded an opportunity to put a
different case. For that I am grateful, as I am
to my agent, Jonny Geller, who bravely delivered
my statement to what I can only imagine was an
icy reception at the Reform Club.
· Hari Kunzru is the author of The Impressionist.
He asked the Mail to donate his £5,000 award to
the Refugee Council.
_____
[2]
The Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia [USA]
www.alliancesouthasia.org/
November 25, 2003
We urge you to join the Alliance in its
condemnation of the recent violence in Bangladesh
and send appeals to the Bangladeshi authorities
and to the editors of the leading newspapers.
"The Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South
Asia is shocked by the recent killing of eleven
members of a single family on November 19 by
armed robbers at village South Sadhanpur under
Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong. This is the
most recent event in the increasing violence over
the past decade.
The increase in lawlessness, criminalization of
politics and the communalization of society in
Bangladesh disproportionately affect the weakest
sections of the population, particularly the
Hindus, Christians and other minorities. In
addition, the rise of Islamic extremist groups
contribute to this climate of fear and insecurity
and detract from the struggle against economic
injustice and from other development and
environmental issues that threaten the life and
security of all Bangladeshis.
While we note the efforts of the Government of
Bangladesh to curb the widespread criminal acts
that are prevalent today, we recognize that this
situation calls for an all-out effort to protect
the human rights and dignity of the weaker
sections of society, especially the religious
minorities. The increase in the activities of
sectarian groups must be met with strong
condemnation and resistance by all progressive
forces.
The Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia"
This statement has been sent to:
1.President:
2) Prime Minister:
Honorable Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia
Office of the Prime Minister Gano Bhaban
Sher-e Bangla Nagar
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Telgrams: Prime Minister Zia, Dhaka
Bangladesh
Fax: 88028113243
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister or Hon'ble Prime Minister.
3) Leading newspapers in Bangladeshi
o o o o
[Additional resources added by SACW]
E-Mail of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh: <pm at pmobd.org>
Select List of Bangladesh Newspaper E-mails:
Daily Star
E-mail: dseditor at gononet.com
Ittefaq
E-mail: ittefaq at bangla.net
Independent
E-mail: ind at gononet.com
Prothom Alo
E-mail: news at prothom-alo.com
Janakantha
E-mail: janakantha at bttb.net.bd
The New Nation
E-mail: newnation at nation-online.com
Bangladesh Observer
E-mail: observer at dhaka.net
Muktakantha
E-mail: mk at dhaka.agni.com
Banglabazar
E-mail: bpatrika at ssl-idt.net
Banglar Bani
E-mail: bani at bangla.net
Ajker Kagoj
E-mail: info at ajkerkagoj.com
Bhorer Kagoj
E-mail: bkagoj at yahoo.com
______
[3]
Rediff.com, November 21, 2003
Gujarat rights activist for Dr L M Singhvi Lecture on Pluralism
Shyam Bhatia in London
Father Cedric Prakash who has been invited to
lecture at Leicester University can help iron
out ties between Gujarati Hindus and Muslims in
the city, says leading academic Professor Richard
Bonney.
Fr Prakash has been invited by Bonney to deliver
the seventh Dr L M Singhvi lecture on pluralism,
which is organised by the university's Centre for
History of Religious and Political Pluralism.
Fr Prakash's topic Challenges to Pluralism: A
perspective from Gujarat is seen as a timely
contribution to the ongoing debate about communal
violence in the state and ways to prevent it
recurring.
His visit is also being seen as a way of pouring
oil over troubled waters in Leicester where
post-Godhra tensions have manifested themselves
among Hindus and Muslims originating from Gujarat.
"We have a large Gujarati community in Leicster
-- 41,000 Hindus and 31,000 Muslims -- and
relations between the communities have been
damaged," Bonney explained.
"We stand for community harmony and religious and
political pluralism. We cannot bury what
happened, but we must learn the lessons and move
forward," he said.
Bonney explained that Fr Prakash came to the
notice of university academics after he published
an article earlier this year in the Catholic
weekly The Tablet where he talked about what was
going on in Gujarat.
"He has been active in the campaign for judicial
redress for those who suffered in the violence
and he has campaigned on the issue of the
religious law, which obstructs conversion in
certain circumstances," Bonney said.
Bonney drew attention to the Kabir Puraskar given
to Fr Prakash by the President of India for the
promotion of communal peace and harmony.
In 1996 he also received the Nagrikta Puraskar
for his contribution to the city of Ahmedabad and
very recently, in June 2003, the Indian Muslim
Council (USA) presented him with the Rafi Ahmed
Kidwai award for humanitarian work.
In June 2002 he was invited to testify before the
US Commission for International Religious Freedom
in Washington.
On 11 May 2002, during the Gujarat carnage, he
wrote these words, which were published in The
Tablet.
'Genocide is never an internal matter, and the
world's hesitation may yet prove fatal. People
must realise that Gujarat is a laboratory of
Hindutva. What happens there will be applied
wherever in India the BJP believes it can
'cleanse' society of Muslims and Christians.
Hindus make up 82 per cent of India's population,
but its Muslims -- the largest [Muslim]
population in the world after Indonesia -- are in
their millions. If the Gujarat experiment in
ethnic cleansing is allowed to succeed, there
will be genocide to come. The Gandhi ashram, and
the river of ahimsa, are in peril as never
before.'
"Cedric Prakash is one of the leading defenders
of human rights and the campaign for legal
redress for victims of communal violence in
India," Boney said.
"It is important that a city such as Leicester,
with its significant South Asian population and
which prides itself on its inter-community
harmony, becomes aware of some of the things,
which have gone wrong elsewhere in the world. It
is particularly unfortunate, given the size of
the Gujarati Hindu and Muslim community that it
should have been in the state of Gujarat that the
threat to the Muslim and Christian populations
has been greatest. Denial serves no purpose. What
we have to do is to understand what has happened
and learn the lessons of this experience for the
future. The lessons may have relevance for own
mixed communities in the UK as well as for India."
_____
[4]
S E C U L A R M O R C H A
APPEAL TO VOTERS
DEFEAT BJP , DEFEAT COMMUNALISM, SAVE INDIA
As India is inhabited by people belonging to
different faiths, caste and creeds, it can
progress and prosper only on the basis of secular
democracy.
Secularism is one of the basic features of our
Constitution which prescribes a mechanism for
solving various problems like poverty,
unemployment,health, education, housing etc. Such
goals enshrined in Indian Constitution can be
achieved only if its basic values remain secure.
Therefore every political party is required to
give an undertaking on oath before its
registration with the Election Commission to
the effect that it has faith in the basic values
of the Constitution i.e. secularism and socialism.
The main question today is : 'Do B.J.P.
and its allies believe in the basic values of
the Constitution?' The emphatic answer is 'NO'.
Therefore they cannot be expected to solve the
basic problems of the common people. As such, the
undertaking and oath given by the BJP before the
Election Commission is only a farce.
The open secret is that BJP and its
allied organizations want to convert India into a
'Hindu Rashtra' i.e. an Hindu Empire. In such
Hindu Rashtra, only Hindus will enjoy citizens'
rights, while other minorities like Muslim,
Christians,Sikhs, Parsis, Bodh, Jews etc. will
have none. Its administration will function only
for Hindus and police will give protection only
to them i.e. Hindus. Supreme Court
will also be bound to pronounce judgements only
in favour of Hindus vis a vis other communities.
The Parliament will be converted into a Dharam
Sansad and will legislate only in favour of
Hindus. In the ëHindu Rashtraí, it will be
legitimate to punish the present generation of
Muslims, Christians and other minorities for the
so-called crimes ñsupposed or real, committed by
their ancestors in the Muslim and British period.
Mosques will be systematically demolished and
churches will be destroyed. All those who would
oppose would be subjected to mass murders, rape
and loot. The demolition of Babri Masjid, the
brutal murder of Austrailan missionary Graham
Stains and his two minor sons, attacks on
Churches in Gujrat and Orissa, bloody carnage in
Gujrat are living examples of the Hindutva
agenda.
The BJP election manifesto may talk of the
common problems of the people such as poverty,
unemployment, education, electricity, water, and
may promise their solutions. But as soon as the
BJP comes to power it pushes its promises under
the carpet and starts implementing its Hindu
agenda by overt or covert means.
When BJP came to power five years back at the
Centre, it carried out atomic bomb explosions at
Pokharan, though it was not part of its
election manifesto.
The ostensible purpose of Pokharan explosion was
stated to be to ensure security of India- but in
result it enhanced its insecurity. Pakistan soon
acquired nuclear weapons. Previously Pakistan did
not enjoy superiority in conventional army with
India, but now it is equally pitted against it.
Another injurious result of nuclear explosion
is that India has to spend huge amount in
acquiring and maintaining nuclear weapons, so
that it has no money left to reduce poverty and
unemployment. The army of unemployed youth is on
increase, and in many states, the locals have
started detesting the outsiders who are Indians
nevertheless. The killings of Beharis in Assam
and attacks on non-Maharashtrians in Maharshtra
are a disturbing phenomena, which may soon
envelope other Indian states if BJPís hawkish
polcies are not checked soon. The extent of
corruption in the defence and security
expenditure is a top secret, and if any citizen
raises any question in this regard, he may be
dubbed as 'anti-national' and may become victim
of prosecution. The violence in various forms is
on increase as BJPs Hindutva agenda is incapable
of pursuing any socio-economic programme for the
upliftman of the common people.
However the saving grace is that majority of
Hindus are not supporters of this Hindutva agenda
of BJP. Therefore the consistent endeavour of
BJP is to utilize the administration for
injecting and spreading communal virus in society
so that the number of its followers is increased.
It has been trying to pervert history to poison
minds of young Hindus against the Muslims and
Christians. It also starts filling up posts in
various departments such as industry, education,
police etc. by its own supporters who function
with communal outlook and harass minorities.
Another term for BJP anywhere will be highly
detrimental to the continuation of secular
democracy in India.
Corruption and political opportunism has
increased during the rule of BJP led coalition.
Its leaders are found most corrupt than others.
BJP rule will eventually lead to the destruction
of secular democracy and Indian Constitution.
We therefore appeal to voters to defeat BJP
in the present elections so that future of India
is saved.
V.M.Tarkunde, N.D.Pancholi, Indra Makwana,
Pushkar Raj, Mahipal Singh, Karamvir Shastri
Indian Radical Humanist Association, Lokayan,
Forum For Democracy & Communal Amity, Vasudev
Kutambkam, Champa- The Amiya & B.G. Rao
Foundation, Indian Social Institute, Minorities
Council, Manav Foundation.
24.11.2003
_____
[5]
[November 25. 2003]
Massive anti-communal convention planned in
Chikkamagalur in karnataka to protect the
hindutva onslaught on the Bababudangiri shrine
AN APPEAL FROM BABABUDANGIRI SOUHARDA VEDIKE
Dear friends,
Indian political scene is entering another phase
of communal cauldron. As the general elections
are fast approaching, the Ayodhya issue is being
raked up again with a fascist vigor. And are
'discovering' 'Ayodhyas' all over India. And in
that pursuit they have 'discovered' such an issue
in 'Bababudangiri', a Sufi shrine in the midst of
Western Ghats in Karnataka.Since 1998, fascist
forces of sangh parivar are trying to rake up
anti-Muslim fanaticism in Karnataka by mobilizing
campaign for the 'liberating Bababudangiri and
recovering Dattatreya Peetha'. Since 5years, they
are using the religious sentiments of Hindu
devotees as cannon fodder for their anti Muslim
programme and the same time brahminising the
Dutta cult, which in fact is synchronous with
Sufi cult, identified with oppressed masses.
But the ploys of sangh parivar are being
successfully challenged by the secular and
democratic forces of Karnataka and they have been
partially successful in forcing them to be on the
defensive.Last year, many progressive and
democratic organizations and individuals from
Shimoga and Chikkamagalur regions of Karnataka
took the initiative in mobilizing all the secular
forces of different ideological faiths, under the
singular task of resisting the attempts of
parivar to saffronise Karnataka by using the
issue. More than 450 intellectuals and 150
organizations all over Karnataka were united
under the banner of 'save Bababudangiri
committee'. A huge gathering of more than 10,000
people was organized in Chikkamagalur, just 10
days after the parivar gathering in the same
town, which had in fact terrorized minorities.
This historical event boosted the morale of
victimized minority people, increased the
confidence of secular forces and pushed the
fascist forces to the wall.
This year, being the election year, BJP has
already declared that they would make
Bababudangiri, 'Ayodhya of south'. VHP-BD is
organizing a similar congregation, with a
declared motive of destroying the shrine this
time. Already in a smaller dry run, they have
already destroyed the shops belonging to the
Muslim community, near the shrine.They have
already declared that on December 7th a gathering
for 'liberating Dutta Peetha' shall be organized
in Chikkamagalur.
The secular and democratic forces of Karnataka
have taken up this as a challenge and have
declared that they would also organize a similar
rally on the same day to 'save Bababudangiri'. We
believe this 'aggressive secularism' could only
be the real answer to growing fascism. On
Dec.21st we are also planning to hold a rally
under the slogan 'let us build souharda
Karnataka' at the same place. We have been
successful in mobilizing all secular forces for
this task.
We appeal to all the anti-communal and
progressive forces to support this effort, in all
possible means, funds, propaganda, participation
etc.We consider our fight against Hindu fascism
in Karnataka is part and parcel of the same at
all India level.
You can:
1. Release press statements, collect signatures
of as many people as possible and send them to
S.M.Krishna, chief minister, Vidhana Soudha,
bangalore-560001. Or send mails to
smk at bangaloreit.com, demanding not to permit
sangh parivar to communalise the issue, not to
allow provocative meetings, speeches and slogans
by sangh parivar. etc
2. Publicize this issue and the efforts against it as widely as possible.
3. Participate in the events, which are organized in this regard.
Mobilize the funds to make success the programme.
You can send the cheuqes/dds in the name of
Sarjashankar Haralimath payable at Shimoga.
K.L.Ashok
(Convener,Bababudangiri souharda vedike)
Contact address: K.L.Ashok, convener, Bababudangiri souharda vedike,
Dharanishiva nilaya 2nd cross, Bapooji nagar, Shimoga, Karnataka-577 201.
Phone: 0- 94481 55604 (Dr.Vasu). E-mail: <souhardagiri2002 at rediffmail.com>
o o o o
The Hindu
Nov 26, 2003
http://www.thehindu.com/2003/11/26/stories/2003112603110400.htm
[Karnataka] Intellectuals plan peace meet
By Our Special Correspondent
A delegation of writers, artists, and thinkers,
led by the Jnanpith Award winner, Girish Karnad
(third from left), calling on the Chief Minister,
S.M. Krishna (right), in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Gouri Lankesh and G.K. Govindarao, members of the
delegation, are seen. - Photo: K. Gopinathan
Bangalore Nov. 25. Writers, artists, and thinkers
will hold a peace and communal harmony meet at
Chikmagalur on December 7 and 8 if the State
Government fails to ban the "Shoba Yatra" at
Bababudangiri. Eminent writers, artists,
film-makers, and other intellectuals from all
over the State will attend the meet.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna,
the writers, Girish Karnad, K. Marulasiddappa,
G.K. Govinda Rao, Gauri Lankesh, V.S. Sreedhara,
and Sudra Srinivas, said the purpose of holding
the meet was to assert the cultural importance of
Bababudangiri.
Mr. Karnad told presspersons here on Tuesday that
the Government should ban religious functions
such as Datta Jayanthi celebration, Shobha Yatra,
Datta Maala, and yagnas on the hills.
Disturbed by the constant political references to
the Dattatreya Peetha at Bababudangiri, he and
others visited the hills on November 21 and
talked to the local people who were frightened as
the situation was tense following the newly
introduced so-called religious practices such as
the Datta Maala.
Allowing such practices would only add to the
already tense situation at Chikmagalur and
surrounding localities, Mr. Karnad said and urged
the Chief Minister to ban religious activities at
the famed hills.
_____
[6]
The Statesman 25 November 2003
Buddha pens epistle to PM against Saraswati vandana
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Nov. 24. - The Marxists' battle against
"saffronisation" of the country's history and
culture acquired a new dimension today when Mr
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee wrote to the Prime
Minister taking serious exception to the "growing
practice" to begin some Centre-sponsored
functions with the Saraswati vandana.
The chief minister cited his own personal
"embarrassment (at having to) sit through the
rendition of the vandana" at the inaugural
function of the Bharatiyam cultural multiplex of
the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre at Salt Lake on
19 November where the Vice-President and the
Union minister of tourism and culture were among
the dignitaries present.
In a strongly-worded letter, Mr Bhattacharjee
said his government not only "stands opposed to
the inclusion of the Saraswati vandana in any
government ceremony", adding that it had not been
customary over the past 50 years "to include an
invocation" in any government function. The chief
minister stated the "embarrassment" he was put to
by the rendition of the vandana at the 19
November function was also "caused to the
secular-minded audience".
In India, he argued, everyone has the right to
profess and practise religion according to his
"freedom of conscience". Not only due respect
must be shown to all religious faiths and
cultural traditions, "in secular India, any
programme that has a distinct association with a
particular religion, should not be included in a
government function".
Mr Bhattacharjee prefaced his letter with the
plea that he would like to draw the Prime
Minister's "attention to an important issue" and
concluded with an appeal to him to "give a
serious thought to the matter and advise all
concerned to stop this vandana in government
functions." Asked if he would boycott functions
where the vandana is invoked, he said: "I've made
my feelings very clear in the letter. I have
nothing to say beyond that."
While the CPI-M has been going hammer and tongs
against what it calls the BJP's "saffronisation"
of the country's cultural ethos, the Marxist
government first raised the BJP's hackles last
year, when its school education minister, Mr
Kanti Biswas, officially registered his protest
against beginning the education minister's
conference with the Saraswati vandana.
The higher education minister, Mr Satyasadhan
Chakraborty, also took similar postures at a
Centre-sponsored function in the city later on.
But, this is the first time that the chief
minister put his weight behind the controversy as
he was obviously mortified at having had sit
through a ritual against his wishes and political
belief.
_____
[7]
The Telegraph
November 14, 2003
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1031114/asp/nation/story_2569945.asp
Foreign origin panel test-fired in Gujarat
BASANT RAWAT
Gandhinagar, Nov. 13: The Gujarat government has
set up a panel to examine whether a person of
foreign origin, even if an Indian citizen, can
hold elected posts in local self-governments.
The thinly-veiled move is meant to rake up Sonia
Gandhi's Italian antecedents days before chief
minister Narendra Modi goes for campaigning in
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The three-member committee headed by Gujarat law
minister Ashok Bhatt will recommend to the state
cabinet within three months changes in the law,
if necessary, government spokesperson I.K. Jadeja
said yesterday.
In Gujarat, there is no "person of foreign
origin" who holds any elected post, be it in the
panchayats, civic bodies or the Assembly.
However, there are several Gujaratis who hold
high posts in countries they have made their
second home. At least four Gujaratis - Prof.
Megnath Desai, Prof. Bhiku Parekh (former
vice-chancellor of MS University), Lord Navneet
and Lord Adam - are members of the House of Lords
in the UK.
The BJP, which has been courting Gujarat's huge
NRI population to boost its sagging economy in
the aftermath of the riots, is unconcerned about
the repercussions of its move. "We do not care,"
said state party chief Rajendrasinh Rana.
The issue is too important to ignore, he said.
There may not be any person of foreign origin
holding any post in Gujarat, but "this is what we
want" and we want it to be the future direction
of the country, said the BJP leader. Gujarat has
taken the lead, let the nation follow it, Rana
said, justifying the government's move.
The issue, he said, is not being raked up to
counter the Congress. "We want to pass a
legislation to ban any person or foreign origin
from holding elected posts in Gujarat. And the
committee set up today (Wednesday) is an exercise
in that direction."
The Opposition Congress dismissed the move as a
"political stunt" which, it said, is likely to
backfire.
"The cabinet is not empowered to adopt such
unconstitutional resolution and neither can
constitute any committee as per the Constitution.
The proposed amendment is only aimed at curbing
fundamental rights of citizens," Opposition
leader Amarsinh Chaudhary said today.
State party vice-president Hasmukh Patel
yesterday said the issue has been settled by the
Supreme Court, but the BJP wants to exploit it in
the coming Assembly elections.
Modi will campaign in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan from November 18.
Asked what prompted the government to set up the
committee, Jadeja said there is a popular demand
for enacting a law to ban people of foreign
origin from holding the elected posts of
sarpanch, district panchayat president and mayor.
But he could not specify who has raised this
demand in Gujarat.
Political analyst Achut Yagnik called the
decision an "exercise in futility" and cheap
populist propaganda. He wondered how the BJP
would treat the large number of Sindhis who
migrated from Pakistan to Gujarat after
Partition. Will the Sindhis now be treated as
India citizens of foreign origin? he wondered.
_____
[8]
Delhi Newsline
November 25, 2003
Meet on crime against women
Express News Service
New Delhi, November 24: WOMEN'S organisations in
Delhi today released their agenda for the
forthcoming international fortnight protesting
"Violence Against Women and Girls'' which begins
tomorrow and released posters of cricketer Sachin
Tendulkar endorsing the cause at the Indian
Women's Press Corps.
Indira Jaisingh, Supreme Court lawyer and
director of Lawyers Collective, said that 49 per
cent of such cases pertain to domestic violence
and most of them go unreported.She criticised the
government for its delay in accepting the
recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing
Committee on the ''Protection of Women from
Domestic Violence Bill 2002'' and making a
legislation in this regard.
Kamal Mitra Chenoy of the Jawaharlal Nehru
University said the idea that men represent the
strength and force and women represent
sensitivity and beauty is embedded in the society
and it is propagated by the mass media to a great
extent in the present world.
The notion of superiority of men is recognised in
the society. He said that the nation is facing
the wreath of such notions as the disturbances in
Gujarat and at present in Assam are outcome of
such notions and in all cases the victims are the
women.
He further said: ''Men who oppress women cannot
be free,'' and there is ''the need for male
solidarity against violence towards women''. Men
should also educate themselves about the true
nature of man and woman relationships.
Kalpana Vishwanath, of Jagori Women's Centre,
released the agenda for the coming fortnight,
which includes simultaneously a memorial at India
Gate and a protest march at Dakshinpuri tomorrow
evening.
A workshop on ''Sexual Harassment at Workplace''
at Rohtak Medical College on November 27 and
other programmes, which continue up to December
10, includes protest meetings, quiz contests,
poster making, film screening, rallies,
streetplays, workshops, etc for the awareness of
the society towards the problem.
_____
[9]
Gujarat - a laboratory of Hindu Rashtra
(45 mins/Hindi with English Sub-titles)
dir. Suma Josson, 2003, India
ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts)
The Mall, London, SW1
nearest tube: Picadilly Circus/Charing Cross
on Tuesday 9 & Wednesday 10 December 6pm
'Gujarat - a laboratory of Hindu Rashtra' will be screened with
'Miles to Go' (dir. Nina Subramani) followed by discussion
on Saturday 13 December and Sunday 14 December 3pm
'Gujarat - a laboratory of Hindu Rashtra' will
be followed by a launch of a new report by the
International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat
and an opportunity for discussion
(Box office: 0207 930 3647, tickets: £6.50 / £5.50)
Organised by South Asia Solidarity Group : southasia at hotmail.com
Gujarat - A laboratory of Hindu Rashtra by Suma Josson
This film looks at the violence which engulfed
Gujarat in March 2002 in which more than 2,000
women, children and men were brutally massacred,
and many thousands more saw their families, homes
and livelihoods destroyed.
Using the events in villages and towns where the
violence took place as a starting point, the film
exposes the role of the Indian diaspora in
promoting the genocide.!
It also shows why Gujarat with its skewered
economic growth, high unemployment, the mood of
despair among working people and caste
discrimination is a fertile ground for divisive
ideologies.
The film examines the role of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) the ideological core of
the family of Hindu fascist organisations, the
Sangh Parivar, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP)
in the present political scenario.
The film also talks to prominent religious
leaders (mahants)in the VHP and explores their
ideas of democracy, Hindu Rashtra, the
constitution, and the status of ‘lower caste’
communities.
At the same time, it explores the very different
perspectives on the same issues from trade
unionists, human rights lawyers and other
activists, specialists and ordinary citizens.
The film with its warning of 'Gujarat today,
India tomorrow' sends out an urgent call for
action against the growth of fascism in India.
Miles to Go by Nina Subramani
This film is about Greenpeace activists
organising against the authorities and big
business who fail to take action against
environmental destruction in India
Launch of new report on the aftermath of the Gujarat genocide
produced by the International Initiative for
Justice in Gujarat which was set up by the
following organisations and has focussed
particularly on women's experiences:
Citizen's Initiative (Ahmedabad), People's Union
for Civil Liberties (PUCL) - Shanti Abhiyan
(Vadodara), Communalism Combat, Awaaz-E-Niswaan
Forum Against Oppression of Women (FAOW) and
Stree Sangam (Mumbai), Saheli, Jagori, Sama, and
Nirantar (Delhi), Organised Lesbian Alliance for
Visibility and Action (OLAVA, Pune), and other
women's organizations in India.
_____
[10]
Subject: Update: World Social Forum, India, Jan 16-21, '04
Dear South Asian Friends:
PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY
This is an update on the World Social Forum
<www.wsfindia.org> being held in Mumbai, India
from January 16-21, 2004. The Forum is a crucial
event, especially given the turbulent times
today, that aims to strengthen social movements
globally to realize that Another World is
Possible. The WSF in Mumbai offers us, as South
Asians, a unique opportunity to engage with
social movements from South Asia - some of the
most vibrant in the world. For those of us who
belong to social movements in US, UK, Australia
and other industrialized nations, it is
especially important that we engage with social
movements from the South in order to forge a
unified platform that rejects the militaristic,
neo-liberal agenda of the North and builds an
alternative world centered on the human person.
And finally, the WSF would not be complete
without the representation of the significant
political and social work done by South Asians in
the ever increasing South Asian diaspora -
ranging from the US, Canada, Guyana and Surinam
to Trinidad, UK, South Africa and Fiji, to name a
few.
We, at the India Resource Center and Global
Resistance, are working to ensure a strong
delegation from the South Asia diaspora at the
WSF in Mumbai. We have been pleasantly surprised
by the response from our first email to South
Asian diaspora activists and movements. We expect
close to five hundred activists from the South
Asian diaspora and if you haven't done so
already, please let us know if you are attending
by sending an email to <indiaresource at igc.org>
I hope you will join us as we embark upon this extremely important initiative.
1. WORKSHOP ON SOUTH ASIAN DIASPORA
2. REGISTRATION DEADLINES
3. HOTEL RESERVATIONS
4. INTERCONTINENTAL YOUTH CAMP
5. AIR TRAVEL to India
6. PRESS ACCREDITATION
7. PRE-WSF Tour of People's Movements and Struggles
8. OUTREACH, DONATE, COMMUNICATE
1. WORKSHOP ON SOUTH ASIAN DIASPORA
We are organizing a workshop on Building and
Strengthening a South Asian Diaspora Network that
will take will bring together South Asians
activists residing outside South Asia to share
experiences and strategies. This is a strategy
meeting on how to organize and form mutually
beneficial relationships beyond borders. We will
be using the campaign to hold Coca-Cola
accountable in India as one case where we can
work together. See
http://www.corpwatchindia.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=4545
for details.
We are interested in hearing from you about
suggestions for this workshop and we are also
seeking co-sponsorships from groups around the
world.
The date for the workshop will be finalized by
the WSF India Organizing Committee sometime in
December. You can view the entire list of
proposed workshops at
http://wsfindia.org/event2004/
Global Resistance is also co-organizing three other workshops at the WSF-
1. Outsource This!: Job (In)Security in the Race to the Bottom
2. People's Forum Against Coca-Cola
3. Climate Justice- Linking Human Rights,
Environmental Justice and Climate Change
2. REGISTRATION DEADLINES
The deadline for registering yourself and/or your
organization to the World Social Forum is
NOVEMBER 30, 2003. Please visit
http://wsfindia.org/register_here.php to register.
3. HOTEL RESERVATIONS
You can also book hotel rooms in Mumbai through
the WSF India website
<http://wsfindia.org/sitamice/> The organizers
are asking that you reserve rooms by November
30th.
4. INTERCONTINENTAL YOUTH CAMP
The IYC will be held at the Don Bosco grounds in
Matunga, Mumbai from January 16th-21st, 2004, and
applications for workshops and events at the
youth camp are now open. Email
youth.registration at wsfindia.org to obtain more
information or visit
<http://wsfindia.org/youthforum/>
5. AIR TRAVEL to India
January is the peak tourist season in India and
air tickets to India become harder to obtain as
one approaches December. If you haven't already
done so, you should plan your dates and purchase
your tickets as soon as possible.
From the US, we use a reliable travel agency that
you can contact for tickets- Dev at 415 956 3900
6. PRESS ACCREDITATION
The Press Accreditation process to the WSF is now
open until December 19, 2003. Details are at
http://wsfindia.org/pressroom.php
7. PRE-WSF Tour of People's Movements and Struggles
The National Alliance of People's Movements
(NAPM), a network of over two hundred people's
movements in India, is organizing a tour of
people's movements and struggles in India prior
to the WSF, from January 7th to January 13th.
For those of you who are interested in engaging
with grassroots struggles in India, we strongly
recommend participating in this tour. Details
can be found at
http://www.corpwatchindia.org/bulletins/PBD.jsp?articleid=4923
8. OUTREACH, DONATE, COMMUNICATE
And finally, as we had mentioned in our previous
emails, please assist us in the following:
OUTREACH: We would like to get this invitation
to as many South Asian activists as possible,
please forward freely.
DONATE: We, along with many others, are raising
resources to ensure a balanced representation at
the WSF- both from India and internationally.
Let us know if you are interested in assisting us
in this area, or if you would like to donate. We
are especially looking for funds to assist our
Indian partners to mobilize towards Mumbai.
COMMUNICATE: If you are attending the WSF or
would like to, please let us know by sending an
email to indiaresource at igc.org Also let us know
if you have any questions. We are also looking
for volunteers, both in India to assist during
and prior to the WSF, and internationally, to
assist us in outreach efforts.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In solidarity,
Amit Srivastava
Coordinator
India Resource Center, a project of Global Resistance
E: indiaresource at igc.org
W: www.IndiaResource.org
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
Buzz on the perils of fundamentalist politics, on
matters of peace and democratisation in South
Asia. SACW is an independent & non-profit
citizens wire service run since 1998 by South
Asia Citizens Web www.sacw.net .
The complete SACW archive is available at:
http://bridget.jatol.com/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/
[The earlier URL for SACW web site
<www.mnet.fr/aiindex>, is now longer valid, you
can search google cache for materials on the old
location]
South Asia Counter Information Project a sister
initiative, provides a partial back -up and
archive for SACW. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/sacw/
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not
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